Moving and sounding figure toy



Nov. M, 1950 o. L. RITTER movmc AND soumnmc FIGURE TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26. 1947 IN V EN TOR. A fztr" Oak L.

Attorneys Nov. 14, 1950 o. L. RITTER 2,529,631

MOVING AND SOUNDING FIGURE TOY Filed Dec. 26. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Oa/r L. R/zfer A Zia/ways Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES EPATENT OFFICE,

2,529,631 MOVING AND SOUNDING FIGURE TOY Oak L. Bitter, San Francisco, Calif.

Application December 26, 1947, Serial No. 793,879

3 Claims.

My invention relates to animated sounding toys, and more particularly to such toys as are adapted to be drawn, pushed or otherwise propelled across a surface, and which include means associated with the running gear for animating the toy and simultaneously actuating a soundproducing means carried thereby.

With the foregoin in view, an object of my invention is to provide an improved animated sounding toy.

A further object is to provide an improved animated sounding toy which includes improved means for animating the toy and actuating the sound-producing means.

A further object is to provide an improved animated sounding toy which includes sound-producing means, means for actuating the same and means for selectively silencing said sound-producing means.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof, and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawings in connection with the following specification, wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the preferred form of the invention and taken substantially on the planes of the line l-l of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on the plane of the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken Y substantially on the planes of the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially on the plane of the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken substantially on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof, l0 designates generally a body of a toy according to the invention and in the form illustrated simulates a living creature, in this case a duck. However, it is to be understood that the principles embodied in my invention may be applied to simulated living creatures other than that illustrated. The body l0 comprises side plates II and I2, which are spaced apart by an upper spacer member l3, a forward spacer member l4, and a rear spacer member l5. The sides I! and [2, together with the spacers l3, l4 and I5, are shaped to simulate the profile of the creature desired.

The body l 0 includes a neck portion 1 6, a head portion H, an upper jaw or bill l8, and actuating means E9. The actuating means l9 comprises any suitable handle element 20 which may be pivotally secured, as at 2|, to a stud 22 fixed to the upper spacer member i3 intermediate the sides II and I2.

The spacers l3, l4. and I5 are spaced apart to provide a forward opening 23 just below the up per jaw or bill la, a lower openin 24 intermediate the front and rear ends of the body, and a rear opening 25 in the upper portion of the body. A lower jaw or bill 25 i pivoted in the opening 23 by any suitable pivot means 2l. The lower jaw 26 has a rear extension 28 inwardly of the neck It of the body, which is pivotally connected, as at 29, to the free end of a pitman 30 'which comprises an integral forward extension of an eccentric 3!. An axle 32 is journaled between the sides H and I2 centrally of and immediately over the lower opening 24. A pair of wheels 33 and 34 or running gears are mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis as on the axle 32. The axle 32 extends through these wheel 33 and 3 in opposite eccentric relation, Figure 4, whereby to impart a 'wobbling or Waddling movement to the body it as the same is propelled across a surface.

The axle 32 has fixed thereon intermediate the wheels 33 and 34 a cylindrical cam 35 which is eccentrically positioned relative to its axis and the axle 32, Figure l. The eccentric 3! isformed with a circular opening 36 therein whereby to pivotally mount the same on the outer periphery of the cam 35.. Thus, as the bodylfi is propelled over a surface, the wheels 33 and 34 are caused to rotate, thereby, drivin the axle 32. on which they are fixed and the cam 35 which is fixed to the axle. In View of the eccentricity of the cam 35, the eccentric 3! is propelled in an eccentric closed path relative to the axle 32. -As is indicated in broken lines, Figure 1, such eccentric movement of the eccentric 3| causes the pitman 30 thereof to actuate the movable lower jaw 26 to and from open and closed positions.

The rear spacer E5 has fixed on the inner surface thereof one end of a leaf spring 31 which extends forwardly within the'body E0 to a point in the region of the eccentric 3!. The rear portion of the eccentric 3! is formed with a pair of vertically-spaced projections 38 and 39 which provide a notch (ill therebetween. The free end of the spring 3? extends forwardly to a point inwardly of the projections 38 and 39 when the eccentric 3| is in the rearmost position, whereby upward or downward movement of the eccentric in the course of its orbit will cause one or the other of the projections 38 or 39 to engage the free end of the spring 31, whereby to flex and release the spring to cause vibration thereof and a sound simulating a quacking sound of a duck. The spacer [5 has threaded therein a substantially vertically-disposed bolt ll which is provided with an outer end 42 comprising means for rotating the bolt, and an inner end 43 which is disposed immediately below the leaf spring 31 rearwardly of the free end thereof. As is shown in broken lines, Figure 1, when the bolt 4| is rotated so as to move the inner end 43 upwardly, the same will engage the leaf spring 31 and move the latter to the broken line position, whereby it is clear of the path of the eccentric 3 I, particularly the projections 38 and 39. Thus, with the parts in the broken line position, Figure 1, rotation of the Wheels 33 and 34 will not cause'engagement of the spring 3'! by the projections 38 or 39, whereby the sound-producing means of the body is silenced.

The upper spacer l3 and the rear spacer have fixed therein at their rear and forward ends, respectively, a pivot 43 which extends across the rear or upper opening longitudinally thereof. The pivot 43 pivotally mounts a tail 44 thereon which is preferably counterweighted, as at 45, so 3 that the same will normally project from the body [0 vertically. The lower portion of the tail M is inwardly and oppositely beveled to provide oppositely laterally-disposed cam surfaces 46 and l? which are. preferably covered with a protective layer 58 of wear-resisting material. The rear portion of the eccentric 3| has fixed thereto by any suitable means an extension 49 which is laterally offsetslightly relative to the longitudinal vertical plane of the body l0. As is readily apparent from Figure 3, the extension 49 is adapted to engage one of the cam surfaces or l! as the eccentric moves through its path in an upward direction, whereby to move the tail from the full line position, Figure 3, to the broken line position. Thereafter, as the extension 49 clears the cam surface, the counterweight 45 operates toswing the tail 44 back to the full line position. However, in practice, the pivot 43 is substantially free, whereby the tail will swing laterally beyond the vertical and then return again so as to simulate a lateral wagging of the tail It will be apparent from the foregoingv that as the body I0 is propelled over a surface, the lower jaw 25 will open simultaneously with the sounding of the spring 31, while at substantially the same time the tail 44 will be actuated to wag or wiggle from side to side. When it is desired to use the device without the sound, it is a simple matter to ably mounted on said body; the improvement comprising a tail, means mounting said tail on said body for movement relative thereto, said tail including a cam surface inwardly of said body, said running gear including a rotatable axle, a cylindrical cam eccentrically fixed to said axle for rotation therewith, an eccentric pivotally mounted on said cam inwardly of said body, an integral extension of said eccentric extending through said neck, means operatively connecting said extension to said jaw to actuate the latter, a second integral extension of said eccentric, said second extension being intermittently ngageable with said sounding means to actuate the latter, a third extension on said eccentric, said third extension being intermittently engageable with said cam surface of said tail to actuatethe latter, and means on said body for engaging said soundingmeans for silencing the same.

2. In an animated toy, a hollow body, a hollow neck,..a head havinga movable. lower jaw on said neck, running gear projecting from the lower end of said bod and mounted for rotation about a horizontal axisfor propelling the. body over a surface, a cylindrical cam eccentrically mounted on said horizontal axis, an eccentric pivotally mounted on said cam and having an extension pivotally connected to said movable jaw, sounding means embodying a leaf spring having one end supported in a wall of said body and having the other end normally projecting in the path of means on said eccentric and engageable with said means uponrotation of said eccentric, and means rotatably supported. in said hollow bod having one end adjacent said leaf spring and having the other endactuable from without said body for moving the other projecting end of said leaf spring into and out of the path of movement of said eccentric.

3. In an animated toy, a hollow bod a hollow neck, a head having a movable lower jaw on said neck, running gear projecting from the lower end of said body and mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis for propelling the body over a surface, a cylindrical cam eccentrically mounted on said horizontal axis, an eccentric pivotally mounted on said cam and having an extension pivotally connected to said movable jaw, sounding means embodying a leaf spring having one end supported in a wall of said body and having the other end normally projecting in the path of a notch onsaid eccentric and engageable with said notch upon rotation of said eccentric, and a bolt screw the screw 4| into the body 10 to a point .37.

where it moves the spring 3? out of the path of movement of the eccentric 3|. To protect a childs fingers from being pinched in the lower opening 24 forwardly and rearwardly of the wheels 33 and 34, I have provided felt or like protective guards 50 and 51 at the front and rear edges of the opening 24.

While I have shown and described what is now thought to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In an animated sounding toy simulating a living creature, including a hollow body, a hollow neck, a head having a movable lower jaw, sounding means in said body, and running gear-rotat rotatably supported in said hollow body having one endadjacent said leaf spring and having the other end actuable from without said body for moving the other projecting end of said. leaf spring into and out of the path of movement of said eccentric.

OAK L. BITTER.-

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 953,289 Pressler Mar. 29, 1910 1,304,141 Alena May 20, 1919 1,604,381 Brown Oct. 26, 1926 1,701,734 Stephens Feb. 12, 1929 2,382,537 Beaver Aug. 14, 1945 2,398,023 Martin Apr. 9, 1946 

